Penelope Cruz regained her slim pre-pregnancy figure in 4 months by dancing

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz is back to her slender pre-pregnancy body just four months after giving birth to son Leo, thanks to a Mediterranean diet and dancing workouts.

Cruz showed off her stunning figure in a body-hugging blue sleeveless Stella McCartney dress at the Pirates of the Caribbean 4 photo call at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2011.

Penelope, 37, was joined by co-star Johnny Depp, 37, as they promoted Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

'My Diet Is the Mediterranean Diet'

When asked how she lost the pregnancy weight since giving birth in January 2011, Cruz said a healthy diet and exercise were key.

"I love Spanish food," said Cruz. "My diet is the Mediterranean diet, which is good food. I eat well, but I try to eat healthy."

The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet emphasizes healthy fats, fruits and vegetables and fish and chicken as protein sources.

While Penelope has always been slim, dancing helped her tone up after childbirth.

"I love ballet and it's a little boring for me to go to the gym because I'm used to the dancing discipline," says Cruz. "It's really hard but much more fun."

While Penelope was pregnant while filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, she still trained to sword-fight for 2 months.

"[The crew] were very caring," she laughs. "It was funny to be dressed as a tough pirate but being treated with delicacy by everybody. I had to learn to sword fight, too. I'd trained for two months before we started shooting."

Meanwhile, Cruz, who married Spanish actor Javier Bardem last summer, divides her time between Los Angeles and her native Madrid, Spain.

“Spain is my country and Madrid is my city and I love living there,” says Penelope. “My family and friends are all there so that’s my place."

Now that she's a mother, Cruz says she'll work less and enjoy her free time more.

“Being a mother changes you immediately,” she says. “It’s hard to explain because it’s so deep. But it’s the most beautiful feeling I have ever had.

“Working as hard as I did is not for me any morer. I was exhausted and had nothing to give. You have to live your life to be able to tell other stories. I’m happy I made that decision.

I’ve always measured the success of my work by the experience I had, not by how many awards I got. I hope it will stay like that for me.”